PancakeBot prints flapjacks in any shape you can trace

CHICAGO — In the persistent quest to take all human effort out of basic tasks, manufacturers showcased several new “smart” products at the recent International Home and Housewares Show that tackle everything from pancake design to makeovers. The idea: This mirror shows how different colors or styles of makeup would look on your face — or, for men, whether a mustache is a good idea— without anyone having to actually apply the makeup or grow the mustache. Why would you use this: It could cut down on time spent sampling lipsticks and eye shadows at Sephora or Ulta and lighting options let you see how the palette would appear in different settings.

In addition, the mirror pinpoints wrinkles, sunspots and other skin imperfections and recommends products and lifestyle regimens to improve them, the efficacy of which you can evaluate by peering into the mirror later and seeing if it finds fewer flaws. Users design the image with provided software, save the image on an SD card, and insert that into the PancakeBot, which uses a combination of compressed air and a vacuum to control where the batter is dispensed. The idea: Reduce the risk of human error with a system that uses Bluetooth technology to communicate the details of the recipe you are making to a Connect blender, mixer and food scale. Users select from 100 recipes featured on a recipe app, and then follow step-by-step instructions for adding ingredients to the blender pitcher placed on the food scale, which tells you when to stop pouring based on weight.

A helpful feature is the ability to customize recipes based on servings, so that you don’t screw up ratios, and suggestions for substituting ingredients you don’t have on hand.